BEREA, Ohio -- Browns coach Rob Chudzinski wasted no time Monday naming Jason Campbell his starter for the Ravens game Sunday, and explained why he chose Brandon Weeden over the experienced Campbell to start the season.

"I think the biggest thing in looking at it was Brandon was somebody we didn't know a lot about and we wanted to find out more about him,'' Chudzinski said. "He did well in the practices and the preseason. The production hasn't been there there in the regular season that we'd like, but again his role is different now.

So Chudzinski wasn't bluffing in mid-August when he characterized the competition between Campell and Weeden as close? A week later, he named Weeden the starter, saying he earned the job and gained the team's trust.

"We and I believed that all along,'' Chudzinski said. "These guys, going back to April, got better and improved and showed that they were capable, so it was close in that way."

With Weeden firmly entrenched now as the backup, does Chudzinski think he can still be a winning NFL quarterback?

"Yeah, I still think he’s a developing player,'' said Chudzinski. "He has a good upside. He needs to continue to work, which is what his approach is right now.”

The Browns were so determined to see what they had in Weeden that they named him the backup to Brian Hoyer for the Buffalo game Oct. 3 even though he had only one practice since suffering his sprained thumb Sept. 15 in Baltimore.

“The first few games, there were things Brandon had done well,'' said Chudzinski. "In different stretches and at different points he was doing the things you would like him to do. When he was able to get back and be healthy, we felt like his thumb was in good enough shape that he’d be able to play in that Buffalo game.''

But one look at Campbell hitting the open man, completing 61 percent of his passes, scrambling away from pressure and producing points on three straight drives during Sunday's 23-17 loss to the 8-0 Chiefs was enough to sway the coach. Campbell gave a spirited performance in ear-splitting Arrowhead Stadium, bringing the Browns back from first-half deficits of 13-0 and 20-7, and closing to within 20-17 on an 80-yard drive to open the second half.

"I thought Jason played very well,'' said Chudzinski. "After looking at the tape, he was able to manage the game. He was able to escape and get out of some trouble and create some plays. He did a good job from a decision-making standpoint as far as protecting the football and he gave us a lift in that game so we're real pleased with how he played."

Campbell (6-5, 230) completed 22 of 36 attempts for 293 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 105.4 rating. He muscled out of defenders' clutches and was sacked only once by the NFL's No. 1 team in that category.

He had a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter, but Davone Bess muffed a punt that the Chiefs recovered and later dropped a fourth-and-7 pass with 2:01 left.

"Really, I think (Campbell's) ability to come in in a short week of practice and be as sharp as he was and also in a tough place with the noise and the difficulty in communication -- I thought he did an outstanding job of that,'' said Chudzinski.

Campbell's pocket presence magnified Weeden's lack thereof. Can Weeden do much to improve in that area? He was sacked 21 times in five games, and that rate is a league-high.

“Some guys have a better sense for it, but there are improvements guys can make,'' said Chudzinski. "There are a lot of drills and things like that that the quarterbacks do on a daily basis. A lot of it’s getting out there and playing and feeling the pocket and being able to slide and make those adjustments to keep your eyes downfield and making those decisions on when to run and when to hang in there and throw.”

Chudzinski stressed that he's also looking for growth and development in Campbell, who went three-and-out on his first three drives.

“There are things he can get better at as we’re looking at tape that he needs to improve on,'' said Chudzinski. "We’re focused on one game at a time and we’re focused on each guy, each person, coach, player – everybody being better every week. That’s what I want to see – that sort of improvement every single week.”

Despite that, Campbell had some tough obstacles to overcome, including the lack of a running game (40 yards from the running backs), poor field position (average of his own 22), a defense that dug a 13-0 hole, receivers that couldn't hang on and an opponent that was first in most key defensive categories, including points allowed (11.6).

"He did a great job,'' said running back Fozzy Whittaker. "He managed the game very well, no turnovers, efficient throwing, had a great passing day. He was a great game manager, and everybody’s behind him, supporting him and looking to move forward and get another win under our belt.”

Linebacker Paul Kruger feels good about his new team's chances against his old team this week with Campbell at the helm. The Ravens, coming off a bye week, are 3-4.

"(Campbell) put us in a position to win,'' said Kruger. "If our defense would’ve come out and played the first half the way we did the second it would have been a completely different ballgame,'' he said. "I think Jason did an excellent job.''

He said Campbell's performance ignited the defense's second-half performance. After Campbell came alive, the defense held the Chiefs to three points, sacked Alex Smith five times and limited the Chiefs to 50 yards of offense and one third-down conversion.

"This is a team game," he said. "We rely on them just like they rely on us. It definitely plays a role.''

With Campbell, offensive coordinator Norv Turner was able to call the flea-flicker and some bootlegs and roll-outs.

"As the game went on, and Jason was playing the way he was playing, we were able to do everything we wanted to do,'' said Chudzinski, adding the club will address the sluggish starts and early miscues. The Browns managed 18 yards and no first downs on their first three drives. Bess dropped a short pass over the middle and Josh Gordon looked in the wrong place for a deep third-down pass.

"We’re taking a hard look at it,'' said Chudzinski. "We had some opportunities to make some plays whether it be a throw or a catch that we didn’t make and so it’s about execution. That's our focus this week, doing a good job early of executing.”

He also promised that Campbell's supporting cast will improve. Greg Little caught one pass for eight yards, and Bess dropped three and caught three.

"(I'm confident) those guys will step up and we'll continue to get balls to Jordan (Cameron) and Josh (Gordon) and the backs as we’re doing,'' he said. "When we’re playing well, you’re seeing the ball get spread around that way.”

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